Chapter 18: Parties and Presents

(3 months later ~ 1 year old)

"Happy birthday to you," The family sang as I brought out the cake for my daughter's first ever birthday.

"Happy birthday to you,"

Esme nudged Emmett sharply in the ribs as he sang 'You live in a zoo' instead of the real words.

"Happy birthday dear Daisy,"

Daisy's eyes lit up at her name, and she giggled as Emmett sang 'You look like a monkey, and you smell like one too'.

"Happy birthday to you!"

I put down the pink and white cake in front of Daisy. It was homemade, with a little (a lot) of help from Bella, and Daisy clapped her hands excitedly.

"Blow out the candle, Daisy." I told her. Daisy blinked at the dancing flame on top of the pink candle. She smiled and blew out the candle. "Make a wish, baby girl."

"Shoes!" Daisy shrieked, and a laugh echoed around the table. Whilst Daisy could now understand pretty much everything we said to her, she still only spoke two words; Shoes and Please.

"I think your fairy godmother can grant that wish."

We spun around to find Dana standing in the doorway. She'd been staying low since the Volturi had started looking for her, and she had the tendency to pop up unannounced. I smiled and wrapped her in a hug, whilst Daisy eyed the presents and balloons she Dana was carrying. Whilst Daisy's instincts still made her wary of other vampires, she'd never had a problem with Dana. We thought it was because Dana had played a part in creating her, and Daisy felt that bond. She stretched her arms out to her godmother, "Please!"

Dana laughed gently and set down three presents, wrapped in sparkly pink paper. Daisy clapped her hands in excitement. "Go ahead and open them."

Daisy clumsily tore off the wrapping paper, smacking Emmett's hand when he impatiently tried to open the presents for her. The first present was a tiny pair of Ugg boots. Daisy squealed and hugged the boots to her chest, "Shoes! Shoes!"

"Those are super cute!" I said. I tried to pick up the shoe to get a closer look, but Daisy hugged them tighter and whined until I let her keep them. I rolled my eyes, "Open the next present, sweetie."

Daisy picked up the second parcel, "Shoes?"

"Nope, sorry, no shoes in that one." Dana said. Daisy picked up the third parcel and repeated her question. Dana shook her head.

Daisy frowned, but the frown quickly disappeared when she opened one of the parcels. Inside was a pink teddybear, dressed in a white ballerina's outfit. Daisy hugged the bear tightly and giggled in delight. She grabbed the third present and tore off the paper, revealing a white plastic horse with a pretty main plaited with bows and clips. Daisy tried to add this to the collection of things in her arm, and a stray boot fell to the floor as she tried to hug everything at once.

"Please!" She said to Dana.

"She means thank you." I told Dana with a laugh.

"If she's opening presents, can I give her mine?" Emmett asked, producing a present. Daisy grabbed it before anyone could answer Emmett's question, and tore off the paper. Inside was a pair of soccer boots; pink and sparkly.

Daisy looked up at Emmett, "Shoes?"

"Exactly." He said. He produced a soccer ball from behind his back, "I'm gunna teach you to play!" He caught the frown from Jasper and I, "When you're a little older...age 3 was the smallest shoe size they had."

"But Daisy's a girl!" Renesmee protested, "She can't play soccer!"

"She can play whatever she wants to play." Jasper said, kissing Daisy's forehead. Renesmee just rolled her eyes, and I secretly joined in. No daughter of mine was going to get her pretty dresses dirty kicking around a soccer ball!

"Open ours." Edward said, placing down a present from him and Bella. Daisy looked at the present as if it might bite her, and I had to wonder exactly when Daisy would start trusting other vampires. However, Daisy couldn't resist a gift, so she grabbed the package and tore it open. Inside was a Barbie princess DVD, with the doll that starred in the movie and several outfits to dress her in. Esme and Carlisle presented their present next; three tickets to a toddler theme park that had recently opened nearby. Daisy looked at the card rectangles in confusion.

"MegaWorld." I told her, and her face lit up in recognition. She'd seen the adverts on TV.

"She's gunna like my present more!" Renesmee said. She handed Daisy a small, messily wrapped package. Daisy tore open the packet. Inside was a folded up piece of paper. I helped Daisy smooth out the paper so she could see the picture Renesmee had carefully coloured in crayon. There was a girl; clearly Renesmee with brown curls almost down to her feet, orange skin and red lips. She was holding the hand of a smaller girl, also with brown curly hair down to her shoulders, yellow skin, and orange eyes. Underneath, Renesmee had shakily written the words 'Nessie and Daisy BBFs'

Under the picture was a bracelet made of a pink piece of yarn with several beads threaded on. Renesmee smiled and held up her wrist, sporting a matching purple bracelet, "Friendship bracelets, see? I have one and you have one. As long as we both wear them, we'll be best friends."

Daisy looked up at her cousin and saw the hopeful look in her eyes; it was so clear that she wanted them to be best friends; that she wanted Daisy to trust her. Daisy reached up to Renesmee, making the same gesture she did when she wanted Jasper, Emmett, or I to pick her up. Renesmee beamed and, after getting a nod of approval from me, picked up Daisy and hugged her in her arms. And so, another Cullen earned the approval of Daisy-May.

~o.O.o~

Later that day, Daisy's first ever birthday party began. Peter and Charlotte had arrived after lunch, followed not long after by the Denalis. They'd all come bearing gifts; clothes and toys and teddy bears. Daisy had loved them all, though she still wouldn't go near any of her guests. She seemed to like the party though; with streamers and 'Happy birthday' banners, party hats (which I, of course, made everyone wear), and brightly coloured helium baloons (which Emmett, of course, inhaled and made Daisy giggle by speaking).

Daisy and Renesmee feasted on cake together, whilst the adults chatted away. At three o'clock I sat everyone down and made them all play pass the parcel. "All kids should play it on their birthday!" I insisted when they protested, "And we can't play with only Daisy and Nessie!"

I noticed Emmett and Garrett escape before I could stop them, but the rest of the vampires gathered around in a circle to play the game. It ended promptly when Daisy got a hold of the gift and mistook it for another birthday present, ripping off the many layers until she got to the centre.

The Volturi had sent a gift; a necklace with the Volturi crest. A subtle reminder that they were keeping an eye on Daisy. A reminder that they weren't giving up. We left the necklace in the box it had come in, and shoved it into a cupboard.

We sat the two girls down in front of Daisy's new Barbie movie, and one by one the adults started leaving. Finally, it was just Jasper, Daisy, and I.

We'd already showered her with presents for her first birthday - dolls and clothes and toys and teddies - but now we had a final special gift for her.

Jasper placed the box down in front of her, and she curiously opened it. Inside was a bracelet; delicate silver links that shone in the dimming light. A silver oval pendant hung from the bracelet, showing the Cullen crest.

"You are a very important part of this family, Daisy." I said, kissing her forehead gently, "That is what this means."

I point to the lion, "This shows strength and ferocity. These are traits of our kind; vampires." I point to the hand, "Faith and sincerity. These are traits of our family, our loyalty to each other." I point to the trefoil at the bottom of the crest, "Perpetuality." Daisy looks at me in confusion, "Lasting forever, because we are vampires, but also because the bond our family shares will never be broken."

Daisy traces the letters at the bottom of the crest, and I read them to her, "Cullen. That's your family."

Jasper turned the pendant over. The reverse side was silver, with six words engraved in a spiralling script; Per sempre, tu sei il nostro.

Now Daisy looks very confused. I smile down at her, "Italian. It means; Forever, you are ours."

Daisy giggles happily, seeming to like that idea. I secure it around her wrist; the tightest setting only just fitting. She waves her arm around and watches it sparkle as it catches the sun.

"I think she likes it, Jazz." I said.

Daisy stopped and looked up at Jasper, "Jazz."

We both stared, then burst into applause. Jasper was beaming; whilst it wasn't exactly the Daddy or Dada that we'd hoped for, she'd said his name, and it was beautiful.

A/N: Hey :) So yeah, I'd planned to skip 3 years, but I wanted to do Daisy's first birthday :) The next chapter is going to skip to when she's 3 years old though...

Thanks for all the reviews! As before, anyone who reviews will get a sneak peak of the next chapter ;)